Bangladesh: Three days on the road

Dressed up, lined up, and waiting for pictures and bedkits. From Bangladesh 2007 Album

We have just arrived back in Dhaka from a three-day-long road trip around the southern part of Bangladesh. We travelled by boat, steamer, and car. Our daily travelling time averaged about six hours a day.

However, it was all worth it because we made a difference to every kid who received a bedkit.

Our first day in Barisal was chaotic. It was the first time that a distribution had been held there and the villagers were unfamiliar with how SCAW distributions worked. They didn't understand all the details and consequently there was much organization that had to be done before we could begin.

The second distribution that day was much better. When we arrived all the children were already dressed and lined up. They were divided into boys on the left and girls on the right, and as the Sleeping Children team drove up and got out of our cars all the kids started to clap and smile as they saw us. It was very exciting for them.

Many of these children had travelled quite a distance and had dressed themselves up to look their best for this event. Some of the girls wore lipstick and eyeliner and even high-heels while the boys had their hair combed to one side and their shirts buttoned up and tucked in. Many of them were washing their feet and brushing their teeth with their fingers to look their best. How humbling it was to see this. It gave our team a look at how much it meant to them to receive their gift.

Loading bedkits and kids on the bus for home. From Bangladesh 2007 Album

When we had distributed the bedkits, some of the children would come up to us and tap their forehead or even touch our toes to show us a sign of thanks and gratitude. Some would even come right up and ask us how we were doing and what our names were. They would have big smiles as they received their bedkit and then walk away saying "Thank you."

At the end of yesterday's distribution Clive got one of the girls to sing the Bangladesh national anthem which she did a very good job at. We all clapped when she had finished and Clive rewarded her with a bouquet of flowers.

So far we have distributed 2,400 bedkits and have given 2,400 children their sleep back.

Arrius Racioppo, SCAW team member

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